Discussion

Looking for bistro-ish dinner Friday-- Back Bay/Kenmore area

Hi all. I'm looking for a place for dinner Friday for two. We are on a schedule and therefore need a reservation. Eastern Standard, my first thought, is booked. So basically, I still want something in that vein (doesn't need to be be strictly French...something more American bistro-y with Italian and/or French influences is fine). We're in the mood for trying a new-to-us place, also. It seems there are some new options in that 'hood, but nothing I've heard raves about.

I've thought of:

Towne--It seems pretentious but Lydia Shire's lobster pizzas are always a welcome treatCity Table--I've read some decent things and the menu look fun--anyone been?Sel de la Terre on Boylston--Been to the original location many times...some meals better than othersPost 390--fun space, but does anyone like the food?

I hope you went to Brassarie JO as we hit Gaslight for the first time last night and were completely underwhelmed. Cheese fondue with sausage was a big pile of pretty mediocre melted cheese with about 1/2 a slice of salami julienned into it. Fried artichokes were OK. Both my wife and I got the steak frites, and while the fries were piping hot and good, the steak was cool. I'm glad to have a steak not be piping hot, as it shows the kitchen is letting the meat rest before serving it, but they should put the butter on it when it's hot. As it was served to us, it was a piece of cool steak with a hunk of unmelted garlic/herb butter on top. Not terribly appetizing. the best thing we had was a side of butternut squash/potato that was delicious but woefully small. Add to that the waiter who almost opened the wrong wine (last time I checked cabernet savignon is a red wine), and his general ineptness won't have us running back anytime soon. I'll take Brassarie Jo with it's prices 10-15% more, and it's quality and service 100% better.